Hockey’s Future Fall 2007 Organizational Rankings, 11-20

Strengths: The Blue Jackets have assembled a fine collection of prospects at both wings, where the team has the greatest depth. With yet another pick in the top ten, they nabbed Czech winger Jakub Voracek seventh overall in the 2007 draft, a power forward who brings both physicality and top notch offensive skill. He joins a promising group of forwards that includes both Derick Brassard and Alex Picard. Additionally, Kris Russell, one of the team’s top defensemen in the system, made the leap to the NHL this season.Weaknesses: The emphasis on high-end offensive talent in recent drafts by the Jackets has not brought in the talent to match in other areas. While they have numerous defensemen in the system, there are no potential top pairing NHL starters. With Russell moving on to the NHL and the trade of Adam McQuaid in the offseason, the talent on the backend has been further chipped away. Behind Steve Mason, who is not a sure bet starter, the Jackets have little depth in the net.

Strengths: Aside from Harding, the Wild have considerable quality and depth at the forward positions, with 2005 first-round pick Benoit Pouliot, James Sheppard and Petr Kalus. Like Harding, the physical and talented Sheppard looks to be a regular fixture with the Wild this season. Danny Irmen provides further depth at wing.

Weaknesses: The Wild seem to lack top-end defensive talent, with Shawn Belle being their best prospect. Despite Belle’s considerable physical attributes, many scouts feel he lacks the hockey instinct to be more than a second or third pairing defenseman. Defense also lacks overall depth and the return to Russia of Roman Voloshenko cuts into the depth on wing.

Weaknesses: After 2007 second-round pick Trevor Cann, who was selected in what was considered a down year for goaltenders, there are no solid goaltending prospects in the Avalanche system. The Avalanche lack top-end forward candidates outside of Hensick.

Strengths: While the Flames do not boast the richest overall pipeline in hockey in terms of talent, they might in NHL legacy, with the names "Sutter" (Brett, son of Flames GM Daryl) and "Nystrom" (Eric, son of former Islander Bob) gracing their top 20 prospects. An above-average prospect, Nystrom is a solid left winger. The Flames do also have some solid top-end talent, including former Everett (WHL) netminder Leland Irving. Four of the Flames’ top six prospects are centers, with Dustin Boyd, Daniel Ryder and Michael Backlund all good bets to be steady contributors at the NHL level. Russian Andrei Taratukhin projects as a third or fourth line grinding player with passing skill.

Weaknesses: The Flames system is almost bereft of quality defensive talent. Mark Giordano, the Flames’ highest rated defense prospect, recently signed to play in Russia because he could not come to terms with the NHL club on a new contract. Overall, Calgary lacks elite franchise talent.

Strengths: Cory Schneider, Alexander Edler and Luc Bourdon could form a powerful back-end for the Canucks for years to come. Boston College goalie Schneider has all the earmarks of a top backstop, while rangy Swede Edler is most likely a top-pairing NHL defenseman. The Canucks boast good depth at defense with big, strong Daniel Rahimi and Taylor Ellington, among others.

Weaknesses: While 2007 first-round draft pick Patrick White is a very good all-around prospect, after White the forward depth is not particularly strong. Players like Austria’s Michael Grabner or Mason Raymond, could develop into solid second-line players.

Weaknesses: Right wing has thinned out with the graduation of Alexander Radulov and the forward corps overall lacks elite high-end prospects. The lack of offensive talent relative to other organizations causes Nashville to slide slightly in these rankings.

Weaknesses: The Islanders most glaring organizational weakness lies between the pipes. Neither of Stefan Ridderwall and Jase Weslosky are expected to be anything more than minor-league depth netminders. There is also a lack of talent down the middle. Danish center Frans Nielsen is almost NHL-ready, but after him, only Shea Guthrie has offensive potential. Another weakness is on the blue line where Dustin Kohn and Andrew MacDonald head up a short list of rearguards, none of which have top-pair potential.

Strengths: Defense and overall balance are the hallmarks of the Sharks talent pipeline. In Couture (C), Devin Setoguchi (RW), towering Ty Wishart and Nick Petrecki (D), and German goalie Thomas Greiss, the Sharks a have a fairly nice core of future stars at every position. Setoguchi is already scoring goals in bunches for San Jose and, just months after signing his first pro contract, Torrey Mitchell has been skating a regular shift with the Sharks.

Weaknesses: After the aforementioned players, the talent level seems to fall off dramatically, especially at the critical position of goalie.

Strengths: At the top of the Leafs prospect depth chart, there is no shortage of elite talent and offensive potential. Justin Pogge appears to be the goalie of the future, and a good one at that. Jiri Tlusty is an elite prospect with top line potential, Robbie Earl could be a top six winger, and Nikolai Kulemin is a boom or bust prospect who could rapidly raise the club’s fortunes. On defense, Anton Stralman has raised a lot of eyebrows and could see significant NHL action this season.

Weaknesses: With a lack of draft picks over the past few years, depth remains an issue. Dale Mitchell, Tyler Ruegsegger, Chad Rau, Chris DiDomenico, Ben Winnett, and Brent Aubin all have some potential, but are likely depth or role players at best. There is also a lack of size and grit among the forwards. After Stralman, the blue liners in the organization are probably all fifth and sixth defensemen at best. Goaltender is dangerously thin as Toronto appears to have placed all its eggs in Pogge’s basket.

Weaknesses: The addition of potential game-breaker Esposito and skilled center Veilleux helps to replenish the top-end skill among forward prospects, but the drop off is steep after that. While Jonathan Filewich and Kennedy have posted modest offensive numbers, they are the minority in a relatively thin group up front.